Automatic telephone switch



Patented Mar. 10, 1925.

UNITED STATES A 1,528,761 PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD W. GOFF, OF

NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY,

INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE SWITCH.

Application filed May 29,

To all lolz-m, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HAROLD W. Gorr, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, inthe county of New York, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Telephone Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to automatic telephone exchange switching apparatus and more particularly to the so-called coordinate switches of the type adapted for establishing connection in an automatic telephone exchange system.

The invention is particularly adaptable to a. switching system of the type disclosed in Patent No. 1,515,735 issued November' 18, 1924 to Charles L. Goodrum and John N. Reynolds, but it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this invention may be applied equally well to perform other switching functions.

The object of this invention is to provide an economical and improved form of coordinate switch which will be simple, durable, and reliable in operation.

In accordance with the foregoing object the principal feature of'this invention resides in mounting the active and passiveconductors on the same supporting element whereby their relative positions are deli nitely fixed.

Another feature consists in the provision of a contact supporting member from which the active contact wires are individually removable.

Still another feature is the provision of superposed individually removable elements, on which the horizontally extending multiple bank conductors are mounted together with a plurality of sets of active contact wires which cooperate with the bank conductors.

Other features of invention and advantages will appear from the following detailed description and by the claims appended thereto, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which: Fig. 1 is a partial front assembly view of said switch showing a set of active contacts in operated position; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a contact supporting member showing its associated operating bar and sets of contacts in normal 1922. Serial Nc. 564,364.

non-operated position. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of a contact supporting member showing a set of active and passive conductors arranged thereon.

The multiple bank conductors comprising the wires 1, 2, 3 and 4 are arranged on a supporting insulating strip 5 having rows of slots 6, 7, 8 and 9 at intervals along one side in which the laterally extending lugs 10, 11, 12 and 13 of bank conductors 1, 2, 3 and 4 protrude and are held thereon by bending the lugs or loops over the insulating strip as shown by Fig. 3. The slots are staggered relatively to one another and their spacing equals the distance between the flexible con ductors 14, 15, 1G and 17 which are also arranged on the supporting strips 5 and held securely thereon preferably by means of a latching A:ey 40. This key threads through the lugs or loops of the flexible conductors as a wedge under the insulating strip to lock the flexible conductors in position as shown, and because of its angular position, may be removed from the rear without interference from adjoining sets of conductors.

In the modified from of support-ing member shown in Fig. 4 the multiple bank conductors 41, 42, 48 and 44 are arranged between t-he supporting member 5 and al strip o f insulating material 45. Similarly the integrally formed lugs of the flexible conductors forming the yactive contacts are located in slots such as shown at 46 and held in position by means of an insulating strip r47 which is held securely on said supporting nember in any suitable manner.

The sets of flexible conductors are ar ranged in rows parallel to the bank conductors and the free ends 18, 19, Q0, 21 of each of said sets are normally tensioned out of Contact with the protruding lugs 10, 11, 12 and 13 of the bank conductors. The support 5 may be of considerable length and may carry any desired number of sets. of contact springs 14, 15, 1G, 1T, 14, 15, 16. 17, etc., depending upon the switch capacity desired. For simplicity of illust-ration. however, only two such sets are shown ou support 5 in the perspective view of Fig.

The free ends 18, 19, 20, 21 of each set of Contacty springs 14, 15, 1G, 1T, extend. through apertures in a tie member or card G0. The two outer holes and Q3 in each card are approximately the size of the wires while the two inner apertures Q4 and through to form contact lugs, sets oit active conductors extending transversely to said set ot1 passive conductors and in a plane parallel to said plate, means for removably supporting said active conductors upon said plate, and means for selectively engaging said sets of active conductors with the contact lugs ot said passive conductors.

7. In a switching mechanism, a supporting plate otl insulating material having rows of staggered slots adjacent one edge thereof, a set of passive conductors mounted upon one tace of said plate and having portions thereof looped through said slots to form contacts, said loop portions being struck over to retain them in said slots, sets of active conductors extending` transverselyT to said sets of passive conductors and normally out of contact with the loop portions thereof, and means for selectively engaging said sets of active conductors with the contact loops of said passive conductors.

S. In a switching mechanism, a support, a stationary contact and a flexible Contact mounted thereon, means for removably locking said flexible contact to said support, and means tor engaging said contacts.

9. In a switching mechanism, a support, a plate of insulating material, a passive contact mounted thereon, an active contact having a mounting lug` extending through said plate, means extending through said lug and cooperating with said plate for removably retaining said active contact upon said plate, and means for engaging said contacts.

10. In a switching mechanism, an insulating support, a set ot' passive conductors, sets ot individually removable active conductors arranged on said support, and a wedge for interlocking said active conductors with said support.

11. In a switching mechanism, passive conductors, sets ot individually removable active conductors associated therewith, an integrally formed lug on each of said active conductors, a supporting member for said active and passive conductors, a plurality of slots in said member through which said lugs protrude, and means for interlocking said active conductors on said member.

12. In a switching mechanism, an insul ating support having sets ot slots disposed in staggered relation therein, sets ot individually removable active conductors arranged in said slots, and a wedge for interlocking said conductors with said support.

18. In a switching mechanism, a supporting plate of insulating material, a set ot passive conductors carried thereby, a set ot active conductors, said sets of conductors extending in a plane parallel to said plate, mounting lugs integral with said active conductors and extending through said plate, means extending through said lugs and cooperating with said plate for removably retaining said active conductors upon said plate, and means for engaging said sets ot conductors.

14. In a switching mechanism, a supporting plate of insulating material` a set of passive conductors carried thereby, sets ot active conductors, said sets ot conductors extending in a plane parallel to said plate, mounting lugs integral with said active conductors and extending through said plate, means extending through said lugs and cooperating with said plate for removably retaining the active conductors of cach set upon said plate, and means tor selectively engaging said sets ot active conductors with said set ot passive conductors.

15. In a switching mechanism, supporting plate of insulating material, a set of passive conductors carried thereby, sets ot active conductors extending in a plane parallel to said plate, mounting lugs integral with said active conductors and extending through said plate. a locking wedge tor eac-h set of active conductors extending through the lugs thereot and cooperating with said plate for retaining the active conductors of each set upon said plate, said wedges being diagonally disposed relative to the conductors ot' each set whereby said wedges may be withdrawn without interference, and means for selectively engaging said sets ot active conductors with said set ot passive conductors.

16. In a switching mechanism, a Jframe. a plurality ot removable switching' units carried by said frame, each of said units comprising a support, a set ot passive conductors, a plurality ot sets ot active conductors, said sets of conductors being mounted on said support, and means for selectively engaging said sets of active conductors with said sets of passive conductors.

17. In a switching mechanism` z trame, a plurality of superposed switchingunits carried by said frame, each ot' said units comv prising a plate of insulating material. a set of passive conductors, a plurality of sets ot active conductors, said sets of conductors being mounted on said plate and extending in a plane parallel thereto, and means tor selectively engaging said sets of active conductors with said set of passive conductors.

18. In a switching mechanism, an insulat` ing support, a set ot passive conductors insulatively arranged thereon and brought through insulation at intervals in staggered position along one side of said support, a plurality of sets of active conductors arranged in rows on said support, said active conductors being associated but normally out of' contact with said passive conductors, and a selective mechanism for operating said active conductors into contact with said passive conductors.

19. In a switching mechanism, a set of passive conductors, an insulating support ior said iconductors, sets of active conductors on said support disposed in the same plane but at right angles to said passive conductors, an operating-Cardiol" each setof said active conductors, and meanscompris-` ing conjointly operating barsi foroperating said cards to etl'ect contact between'said active and passive'l conductors.l

20. Ina switching mechanism, a set of passivel conductors,v a: set of active conductors, an insulating support for said sets, anl operating card lfor said set of active conductors, a mechanism for operating said card comprising 'a pair of "coordinately disposed movable bars, a rigid arm extending laterally from one of said bars, and a hook carried bythe second Shar for operatively engaging said card, the conjoint operation of said hars being ellective to voperate said card to effect; interengagement hetween said .sets of conductors'at their intersecting points.

2l. In a switching mechanism, a? plurality of 'superposed individuallyfremovable supports, eachffhavingfa set of passive lcon# ductorsmounted thereon,r a plurality of ysets of active conductorsl on each off-said supports, said active 'conductor sets'beingfar ranged in rows parallel tosaid passiveconductors but normally out of engagement therewith, an operating card'l'or each'set` of said active conductors, andv means for selectively operatingssaid cards to elect contact between said activeand passiveconductors.

22. In a? switching mechanism, sets'of parallel 'conductingf elements, each having sets of Contact lugs formed integrally therewith, a plurality otrows o'superposedfsets of flexible conductors 'arranged in-rows 'coordinate to said sets of conducting elements, horizontal supports for `said sets'ot conducting' elements and flexible conductors, a selecting bar for each vertical row of flexible conductors, a plurality of i rigid 'arms' v'on each-of said'v selecting bars,` each of vsaid arms being'associa'ted with aset Vof flexible conductors individually but` normally out of operable relation therewith, other bars disposed"coordinately to the first-mentioned bars, aj pluralitytoffflexible operating arms cai'ried'byxsaid otherb'ars, and means opera'- tivefthrough'the conjointJ operation of said otherAv bars and the arms ofthe rst-mentioned bars for selectively establishing'connectionsbetween said setsotelements and said sets lof conductors.

23.' In a switching mechanism, a plurality ot coordinate rows of sets'g'iof active and passive' contacts, supporting plates of in'- sulatingmaterial for p passive contacts, said supporting plates being inrsuperposed' relation, an operating har arranged to'be moved longitudinally on each otsaidl supports, aplurality offarms carried by said bars, a hook carried byeach of said arms, a tiev memher tor each set of said active contacts, said arms beingadapted to be moved into operative relation with said tie member, avselecting'fhar for each row of superposedsets otactive conductors, a pluralityY of laterally: extendingfarms on each of'said selecting bars, Aand means for moving saidl selecting and operatingbars, the conjoint actuationfofk one of'said selecting bars and one of saidoperating bars being effective to'leX a'ssetof flexible con`- tacts into engagement with its associated set vof contact lugs.

24. In a switching mechanism, a'supporting? plate of insulating material, a'set-'ot passive conductors' mounted thereon' and having laterally extendingcontact `lugs arranged in staggered relation, a set of active conductors'of uniform length mounted on said 'plate with their free ends'arranged'in staggered relation and adjacent said contact lugs respectively and with 4their xedfends in staggered relation toform soldering terininals, and means Vl'or engagingssaidf active conductors withV saidfcontact lugs.l`

` In wit-ness whereof, I hereuntofsubscribe my name 'this 26thda'y;of May A.' 13,1922.

HAROLD W. GQFF;

saidV sets of active and 

